Indianapolis Colts 2024 Season Preview
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Despite an injury riddled season last year, the Colts have plenty to be optimistic about for the 2024 season. Last year saw their offensive anchors in QB Anthony Richardson and RB Jonathan Taylor both go down with season-ending injuries. Getting both of those players back is almost like adding a star free agent to last year’s team. They should be one of the more complete and dangerous offenses in the NFL, if they manage to stay healthy.
With Taylor and Richardson coming back, the players that filled their shoes last season have signed elsewhere. Zack Moss left for the Bengals while Gardner Minshew was just named the Raiders’ starting QB. However, the losses to player personnel were relatively minimal outside of those two.
To fill the backup QB role, the Colts brought in Joe Flacco, who won Comeback Player of the Year after leading the Browns to the playoffs despite all the injuries to that offense. The team also added DT Raekwon Davis to fortify the interior of that defensive line. Other than that, they just focused on re-signing guys such as WR Michael Pittman, CB Kenny Moore, LB Zaire Franklin, DT Grover Stewart, and SAF Julian Blackmon.
The Colts will be considered a middle-of-the pack team in 2024, but they are approaching their winning window and the end of that rebuilding process. Do not be surprised if this team makes some noise.
They open the season at home against the Texans, then travel to Green Bay to play the Packers, and host both the Bears and Steelers for a two-game homestand. They go 2-2 to start the season.
October is a month of travel for the Colts. Two straight road games against division rivals, the Jaguars and Titans, then its back home to host the Dolphins, followed by a matchup against the Texans to closeout October. The Colts go 1-3 in October.
The Colts travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings, host the Bills, play the Jets in New Jersey, and finally host the Lions to end November. The Colts will go 1-3 in November as well.
December starts in Foxboro against the Patriots before a Week 14 bye. They come back to play the Broncos in Denver, then host the Titans, play the Giants on the road, and play the Jaguars at home to close out the season. The Colts go 4-1 in this stretch.
I have the Indianapolis Colts going 8-9 in 2024. A disappointing record on the surface but this year is going to be about growth for the young Colts.
2023 Record: 9-8
2024 Prediction: 8-9
